Name: Paige Green's review of A Mighty Long Way by Carlotta Walls LaNier
Item: A Mighty Long Way
Rating: 5
Author: Paige Green

Carlotta Walls LaNier

Lisa Frazier Page

“A searing and emotionally gripping account of a young black girl growing up to become a strong black woman during the most difficult time of racial segregation.”—Professor Charles Ogletree, Harvard Law School “Provides important context for an important moment in America’s history.”—Associated Press When fourteen-year-old Carlotta Walls walked up the stairs of Little Rock Central High School on September 25, 1957, she and eight other black students only wanted to make it to class. But the journey of the “Little Rock Nine,” as they came to be known, would lead the nation on an even longer and much more turbulent path, one that would challenge prevailing attitudes, break down barriers, and forever change the landscape of America. For Carlotta and the eight other children, simply getting through the door of this admired academic institution involved angry mobs, racist elected officials, and intervention by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who was forced to send in the 101st Airborne to escort the Nine into the building. But entry was simply the first of many trials. Breaking her silence at last and sharing her story for the first time, Carlotta Walls has written an engrossing memoir that is a testament not only to the power of a single person to make a difference but also to the sacrifices made by families and communities that found themselves a part of history.

My Journey to Justice at Little Rock Central High School

A Mighty Long Way

Paige Green

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice At Little Rock Central High School

Author: Carlotta Walls LaNier and Lisa Frazier Page

Recommended For...: young adult readers, required reading, memoirs, Little Rock Nine

Age Relevance: 13+ (religion, terrorism, racism, war, colorism, cursing, slavery, murder, death, police brutality, segregation, violence, suicide, vomit gore, illness)

Explanation of Above: The book has passages describing real-life moments of terrorism, racism, war, colorism, slavery, segregation, and police brutality in detail. There are mentions and passages talking about the Christian religion. There is some mild cursing. There are mentions and discussions about murder, death, and one scene describing a supposed suicide. Physical violence is shown and mentioned. There is one passage mentioning vomiting. There are a couple of mentions of cancer and dementia as well.

Synopsis: Follow the story of Carlotta Walls LaNier, who in 1957 at the age of fourteen was one of nine black students who integrated the all-white Little Rock Central High School and became known as the Little Rock Nine.

At fourteen years old, Carlotta Walls was the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine. The journey to integration in a place deeply against it would not be not easy. Yet Carlotta, her family, and the other eight students and their families answered the call to be part of the desegregation order issued by the US Supreme Court in its 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case.

As angry mobs protested, the students were escorted into Little Rock Central High School by escorts from the 101st Airborne Division, which had been called in by then-president Dwight D. Eisenhower to ensure their safety. The effort needed to get through that first year in high school was monumental, but Carlotta held strong. Ultimately, she became the first Black female ever to walk across the Central High stage and receive a diploma.

The Little Rock Nine experienced traumatic and life-changing events not only as a group but also as individuals, each with a distinct personality and a different story. This is Carlotta's courageous story.

Review: This is a truly impactful read. The book is the real-life account of Carlotta Walls LaNier, who was one of the Little Rock 9. If you’re unfamiliar with the Little Rock 9, that stands as a testament to one of the darker times in American history that states and government are actively trying to cover up. The Little Rock 9 was a group of students who volunteered to be the first Black students to attend an all-white school when integration was being introduced. The horrors and hardships they, and more specifically Carlotta, endured during that time and afterwards are detailed in this book in very good detail. The book is an adaptation for young readers and is suitable for anyone who wants to learn the history that American history textbooks refuse to recite. I consider this required reading for anyone at any age. The book itself is very well written and you honestly feel like you’re in conversation with Carlotta.

The only issue I had with the book is that sometimes the pacing was a bit wonky in places, but that’s not unusual for memoirs and such.

Verdict: It was great and I highly recommend everyone add this to their required reading repertoire.

Disclaimer: I received this e-arc and finished copy from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: A Mighty Long Way: My Journey to Justice At Little Rock Central High School

Author: Carlotta Walls LaNier and Lisa Frazier Page

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Black MC and characters

Recommended For...: young adult readers, required reading, memoirs, Little Rock Nine

Publication Date: January 17. 2023

Genre: YA Memoir

Age Relevance: 13+ (religion, terrorism, racism, war, colorism, cursing, slavery, murder, death, police brutality, segregation, violence, suicide, vomit gore, illness)

Explanation of Above: The book has passages describing real-life moments of terrorism, racism, war, colorism, slavery, segregation, and police brutality in detail. There are mentions and passages talking about the Christian religion. There is some mild cursing. There are mentions and discussions about murder, death, and one scene describing a supposed suicide. Physical violence is shown and mentioned. There is one passage mentioning vomiting. There are a couple of mentions of cancer and dementia as well.

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Pages: 304

Synopsis: Follow the story of Carlotta Walls LaNier, who in 1957 at the age of fourteen was one of nine black students who integrated the all-white Little Rock Central High School and became known as the Little Rock Nine.

At fourteen years old, Carlotta Walls was the youngest member of the Little Rock Nine. The journey to integration in a place deeply against it would not be not easy. Yet Carlotta, her family, and the other eight students and their families answered the call to be part of the desegregation order issued by the US Supreme Court in its 1954 Brown v. Board of Education case.

As angry mobs protested, the students were escorted into Little Rock Central High School by escorts from the 101st Airborne Division, which had been called in by then-president Dwight D. Eisenhower to ensure their safety. The effort needed to get through that first year in high school was monumental, but Carlotta held strong. Ultimately, she became the first Black female ever to walk across the Central High stage and receive a diploma.

The Little Rock Nine experienced traumatic and life-changing events not only as a group but also as individuals, each with a distinct personality and a different story. This is Carlotta's courageous story.

Review: This is a truly impactful read. The book is the real-life account of Carlotta Walls LaNier, who was one of the Little Rock 9. If you’re unfamiliar with the Little Rock 9, that stands as a testament to one of the darker times in American history that states and government are actively trying to cover up. The Little Rock 9 was a group of students who volunteered to be the first Black students to attend an all-white school when integration was being introduced. The horrors and hardships they, and more specifically Carlotta, endured during that time and afterwards are detailed in this book in very good detail. The book is an adaptation for young readers and is suitable for anyone who wants to learn the history that American history textbooks refuse to recite. I consider this required reading for anyone at any age. The book itself is very well written and you honestly feel like you’re in conversation with Carlotta.

The only issue I had with the book is that sometimes the pacing was a bit wonky in places, but that’s not unusual for memoirs and such.

Verdict: It was great and I highly recommend everyone add this to their required reading repertoire.

Paige Green &
A Mighty Long Way by Carlotta Walls LaNier

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A Mighty Long Way by Carlotta Walls LaNier